Harris Interactive surveyed 3,171 adults during the week of Valentines, February 14 – February 21, and asked them all sort of questions about energy, energy efficiency, and power sources. I found some surprising information in the results — i.e., 56% of Americans have never heard the term “smart grid.” Perhaps even more astonishing, only 11% of American have conducted a home energy evaluation or home energy audit.

Today Lighting Science Group unveiled a new 60-watt replacement LED bulb that “meets or exceeds all of the criteria for the L Prize,” according to CTO Fred Maxik. If you’re not familiar with the competition, in order to win, the lamp must run better than 90 watts per lumen, produce more than 900 lumens, use less than 10 watts, last more than 25,000 hours, have more than a 90 color rendering index, and have a color between 2700-3000 K.

For the holiday, I mozied down to Home Depot to get some replacement lights and to generally just walk around. I noticed more green products on the shelves and was surprised to see this WaterSense Glacier Bay toilet with Niagara’s Flapperless flush system selling for $88. On the way out, I was given a copy of The Green Guide with these 10 suggestions for saving money, energy, and water.Read more »

Buying a home is a big, expensive deal. It’s important that you know what you’re getting. Ideally, prior to purchase, you should know about its performance in at least four categories: energy use, water use, indoor air quality, and building integrity. But, as a nation, we’re not there yet. We’re getting there, though.

Some folks are stockpiling light bulbs in anticipation of the future phase-out of standard incandescents, according to USA Today. It seems hoarders are doing it for one or two reasons: cost and/or lighting concerns. But these shouldn’t be concerns. With a little bit of math (initial cost + operating cost) and an understanding of basic lighting terms (lumen, watt, color accuracy, color temperature), I think the switch is a no-brainer. So here’s a five-step program for the hoarder:

In my experience, it seems most people compare appliance models based on cost, appearance, and brand. Some individuals consult the yellow-and-black EnergyGuide label for estimated operating cost and energy use information. Others research models online through the Energy Star products database.

But there’s a new resource for locating the most energy efficient products on the market: Top Ten USA.